The decision was taken a day after a leopard was hacked to death by angry villagers at Sohna in Gurugram after it strayed into human settlement and injured several villagers.

Highlights

The decision was taken a day after a leopard was hacked to death by angry villagers.

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Two wildlife inspectors have been deputed to inspect the area to find pug marks

To ensure the safety of Delhi's lone leopard, which was spotted at the Yamuna biodiversity park this week, the state government may shift the big cat to the Delhi Zoo or Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand.

The decision was taken a day after a leopard was hacked to death by angry villagers at Sohna in Gurugram after it strayed into human settlement and injured several villagers. The anguish was such that villagers battered the leopard in the presence of police and wildlife department officials.

According to a senior state government official, forest officials have been asked to carry out a thorough survey in the matter. "We have ordered our officials to conduct a fact-finding survey in the reported sighting of a leopard in the Yamuna biodiversity park. While the sighting is a good indicator of the quality of wildlife in the forest area, our primary concern is the safety of the leopard," said state environment and forest minister Imran Hussain.

"Two wildlife inspectors have been deputed to inspect the area to find pug marks for actual assessment of the leopard's age, if possible. We will also place cages at appropriate sites with baits once the location of the animal is identified to ensure that it can be transferred to a more secure site," said an official.

The sighting of the leopard at the DDArun park had come as a surprise to ecologists and scientists who had sought its immediate safety. Senior government officials said that while ensuring its safety is the prerogative of the state government under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the government is considering its transfer as it might pose a threat to humans.

"Our current survey suggests that it had possibly strayed from its group, which means that it may wander in search for them. This, along with what happened in Gurugram, makes it critical to move the leopard for its own safety. The government is, however, yet to make a decision whether to release it in Rajaji National Park or to Delhi Zoo," said an official.